White Webb is an interior and furniture design firm based in New York City

Its principals, Matthew White and Frank Webb, bring a sense of history to every project, but balance it with an appreciation for modern living.

MATTHEW WHITE

Interior designer and author, Matthew White was selected as one of the “AD 100” (Architectural Digest’s list of the 100 best designers in the world). Rather than being known for a specific look, he creates something new with every project. His passion for history is clearly evident in his work, while his partnership with Frank Webb (a modernist) presents a refreshing blend of old and new. Although their projects are stylistically diverse, there is a consistent sensibility within the work – warmth, comfort, beauty, quality and a keen interest in lasting design.

Matthew White’s intrinsic fascination with a broad spectrum of periods and cultures was further enhanced by his own colorful, personal history. Unlike many of his designer peers, he was not raised among priceless antiques nor mentored by a world-famous designer. Instead, he got his start at Tumbleweed Trailer Park in Amarillo, Texas. It was in these early years that he showed an irrepressible passion for the arts and learned the value of hard work.

As a young adult, Matthew bucked tradition by pursuing a career in dance. In 1978 he was accepted into the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City. During his training at the school, he worked in an antiques shop where he continued to cultivate his education in period styles. He went on to dance professionally for five years with the Los Angeles Ballet. Touring the world with the ballet company, he learned first-hand about a variety of European and Asian styles. After leaving the theatre he had a successful career in graphic design. But it was in 1989 that he returned to his first love and opened an antiques shop in Pasadena, California. The nearly ten years of owning Matthew White Antiques proved to be a period of great artistic growth, allowing for a deeper understanding of the world of decorative arts. It wasn’t long before the collectors who frequented his shop insisted that Matthew design the rooms in which his treasures would be placed.

Now, as an experienced practitioner, Matthew White gives lectures on design, historic styles and the use of antiques in the home. He has been featured in nearly every major shelter magazine. In 2004 he joined forces with Frank Webb to form White Webb, LLC, and in 2006 the design duo were named among the “New Tastemakers – 50 for the Future of Design” by House & Garden.

In addition to his interior design work, Matthew White is involved in various philanthropic causes. He is the Chairman of Save Venice Inc. – an American non-profit that restores superb examples of Venetian art and architecture. He is also on the Historic Preservation Committee for the hamlet of Hillsdale, NY. Matthew recently completed his first book titled Italy of my Dreams – An American Designer’s Real Life Passion for Italian Style.

FRANK WEBB

From his earliest days, Frank Webb can remember being somewhat of a design junkie, but it took him a long time to cede control to his admitted addiction. While he admired and studied the work of architects and designers for many years, he devoted the first phase of his professional life to the financial services industry. During the seventeen years he spent in this field, he honed his skills in project management, strategic planning, and communications, culminating in his running Client Service as a managing director for J.P. Morgan Investment Management.

Seeking a new challenge, he left the firm in 2002 and began to explore new fields. Eager to exercise his creative muscle, he pursued a number of different avenues far afield from the world of finance. During this process, a chance meeting with Matthew White persuaded him to convert his life-long passion for interior design into a new career. After lengthy discussion and a fortuitous design collaboration, the two men decided to join forces and formed White Webb, LLC in early 2004.

Like his design partner, Frank enjoys working in a variety of styles, focusing on architectural appropriateness as the foundation for his design work. In addition, he shares his passion for Italian design, citing the work of Gio Ponti and Paolo Buffa as major inspirations. Where he differs, however, is in his orientation as a modernist, favoring clean lines, innovative materials and the applications of new technologies to the design process. By incorporating a blend of modern and classic style, the design duo has won rave reviews, most recently being named to House & Garden’s “New Tastemakers – 50 for the Future of Design.”

Frank holds a degree in international economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, as well as a certificate in international business from Nijenrode, the Netherlands School of Business. He is involved with a number of non-profit organizations, having lent volunteer assistance to The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, The Roundabout Theatre Company, and the Community Development Venture Capital Alliance. Most recently, Frank embarked on another creative outlet, combining his passions for international affairs, the arts and building businesses. At Africa.com, a website dedicated to presenting the best of the African content, he serves as an Advisory Board Member and Creative Director.